Law applies to all, even presidents

I, like many Americans, am deeply troubled by President Bush's illegal wiretapping of American citizens.

Despite the smoke screen his apologists are attempting to promulgate, his actions are clearly against the law.

The secret FISA courts were set up by Congress to ensure that our security could be protected and still hold the executive branch accountable.

This law allows the executive to wiretap American citizens with a quickly granted warrant or by applying for the warrant three days after the wiretapping was initiated.

President Bush did neither and states this law doesn't apply to him because he's protecting the American people.

This, after assuring an audience during the campaign in early 2004 that even when eavesdropping on terrorists the government still follows the law by obtaining a warrant.

This argument that any action by the leader is permissible because the security of the state is in question is a very dangerous slope to begin sliding down.

When will the world be free of terrorism? When will the United States cease to have dangerous enemies? Must we wait until this amorphous time of no danger to regain our freedoms? Is this what our forefathers fought for?

Neither this president, nor any other, is above the law of the land. Our system is designed to hold everyone, including the president, accountable for their actions.

Despite his pedigree, he is no king. Despite being commander in chief of the military, he is no king. We cannot stand this type of violation of our laws. Our freedoms are too dear and too many have sacrificed everything to ensure our enjoyment of them.